Ryder Cup race to finish in Denmark

Darren Clarke

Published:19:31Sunday 16 August 2015

The qualification process for Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup Team will conclude at next year’s Made in Denmark.

The third edition of the tournament, which proved such an overwhelming success on its Race to Dubai debut 12 months ago, will finish on August 28, 2016, marking the end of the year-long Ryder Cup qualification race, which begins at next month’s M2M Russian Open.

At its conclusion, the leading four players on the European Points List – based on Race to Dubai points accumulated – and the top five players on the World Points List – based on Official World Golf Ranking points gained globally – will be confirmed as part of Darren Clarke’s 12-man team for the biennial contest at Hazeltine National, in Minnesota, from September 30-October 2.

Clarke will then select his three captain’s picks to complete the 2016 European team in the week commencing Monday August 29.

The Dungannon golfer, who will compete in this year’s Made in Denmark at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort next week, welcomed the tournament being confirmed as the final counting event for his Ryder Cup team.

“We saw last year the fantastic atmosphere created at Made in Denmark, and I’m sure that will only intensify next year with the excitement of it being the final counting event towards The 2016 Ryder Cup,” said Clarke.

“It may feel like a long way off now, but Denmark will provide the perfect place to conclude the qualification campaign next year and I’m looking forward to playing the tournament myself next week to sample the atmosphere first hand.

“Like the players, I cannot wait for the qualification process to get underway in Russia in four weeks, and I’m sure there will be intense competition for places between then and next year’s Made in Denmark. I am fully focused on assembling the strongest possible side.”